cauliflower

noun

cau·​li·​flow·​er ˈkȯ-li-ˌflau̇(-ə)r  ˈkä- 

-lē-

often attributive

: a garden plant (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) related to the cabbage and grown for its compact edible head of usually white undeveloped flowers

also : its flower cluster used as a vegetable

Examples of cauliflower in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Tharp also compared the item to cauliflower wings, another product sold at Buffalo Wild Wings, noting that a reasonable customer would not believe the dish is made from wing meat. —Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026

Susan Selasky turns cauliflower into something rich and comforting in this easy recipe. —Monti Carlo, AJC.com, 18 Feb. 2026

If Halim is right, reasonable consumers should think that cauliflower wings are made (at least in part) from wing meat. —Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 17 Feb. 2026

Rosemary is more drought-tolerant than cauliflower, so these two need to be separated to a degree. —Ashlyn Needham, The Spruce, 16 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Italian cavolfiore, from cavolo cabbage (from Late Latin caulus, from Latin caulis stem, cabbage) + fiore flower, from Latin flor-, flos — more at cole, blow

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing cauliflower

• cauliflower ear

Rhymes for cauliflower

• candlepower
• overpower
• superpower
• vavasour
• waterpower
• airpower
• brainpower
• devour
• empower
• firepower
• horsepower
• manpower

Kids Definition

cauliflower

noun

cau·​li·​flow·​er ˈkȯ-li-ˌflau̇(-ə)r 

: a garden plant closely related to the cabbage and grown for its compact edible head of usually white undeveloped flowers